20 replies to this topic

[Swirlysnowflake]

How do you heat a test tube with condensation forming?

[ZTYguy]

Put the heating device and the front of the tube farthest away from the water


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[cocdeshijie]

I heat with an insulated box and a ptc heater hooked up to a thermocontroller.

No condensation because air inside and outside the tube will be at the same temperature.

[ZTYguy]

Wow that’s complicated


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[Tyr_Ants]

How do you heat a test tube with condensation forming?

Just get an air heater

[Manitobant]

I wouldn't heat a test tube unless its one of those bamboo ones. It has always gone badly for me.

[Barristan]

yep heating a test tube can quickly go wrong, especially if you put your heating pad under the whole test tube. Best thing would be to heat up the room or container you have the test tubes in.

[ANTdrew]

Put the test tube in a box with a lid and run your heat cable/pad under one side of the box. Heat the side that is opposite the water in the tubes.

[Swirlysnowflake]

Put the test tube in a box with a lid and run your heat cable/pad under one side of the box. Heat the side that is opposite the water in the tubes.

I’ll try this, thanks! 

What type of box? Cardboard, plastic?

[ANTdrew]

I actually use both when founding queens. I wrap the tubes in a towel and put them in a clear plastic box with a lid. Then I put a cardboard shoebox over everything. If you really want to trap heat, you can line the shoebox with foil, but it can get pretty hot if you do that.

Edited by ANTdrew, December 12 2020 - 5:27 PM.

[Swirlysnowflake]

I actually use both when founding queens. I wrap the tubes in a towel and put them in a clear plastic box with a lid. Then I put a cardboard shoebox over everything. If you really want to trap heat, you can line the showbox with foil, but it can get pretty hot if you do that.

Does the heating go under the plastic boxes or under the shoebox?

[ANTdrew]

Put a loop of cable under the plastic box. I only put the bottom part of the shoebox inverted like a lid. The shoebox provides darkness and traps a bit more heat.

Edited by ANTdrew, December 12 2020 - 5:26 PM.

[Swirlysnowflake]

Put the heating device and the front of the tube farthest away from the water


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Oh, didn't see this, but I had tried this and it still got all fogged up.

[dspdrew]

I agree with some of the people here. Like I always tell people, heat a small cabinet and put the ants in the cabinet. This gives plenty room for error, and it is more stable and consistent, not to mention condensation will never be an issue either that way.

[TestSubjectOne]

Wow that’s complicated


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You don't need something nearly this sophisticated to work. I created an incubator (pictured below) from a styrofoam box from a cooled package - you must use something insulated, unless you have a powerful heat source. I also used a heating pad like this and this thermostat. You plug the heat pad into the thermostat, then put the pad and thermostat sensor into the box along with your ants. You can use the thermostat to decide the temperature inside the box, and it will stay at that temperature within the limits of the heater you added. I found that I also had to add in silica crystal packets from Amazon to keep the humidity down inside, cycling half in every week to keep them dry. I have used this system for a few months to keep my ants at 87 degrees successfully. Credit for this idea goes to OhNoNotAgain, whose journal I found it in.

[Miketheawesome]

 

Wow that’s complicated


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You don't need something nearly this sophisticated to work. I created an incubator (pictured below) from a styrofoam box from a cooled package - you must use something insulated, unless you have a powerful heat source. I also used a heating pad like this and this thermostat. You plug the heat pad into the thermostat, then put the pad and thermostat sensor into the box along with your ants. You can use the thermostat to decide the temperature inside the box, and it will stay at that temperature within the limits of the heater you added. I found that I also had to add in silica crystal packets from Amazon to keep the humidity down inside, cycling half in every week to keep them dry. I have used this system for a few months to keep my ants at 87 degrees successfully. Credit for this idea goes to OhNoNotAgain, whose journal I found it in.

 

I’m going to try this 

all I need to do is get a styrofoam container a heating pad a thermostat and some silica crystal packets to keep the humidity down is there anything I’m missing 

[TestSubjectOne]

That's about it. I'd also suggest taping the heat sensor from the thermostat down, though, because if it falls out of the box it will overheat and kill the ants inside. You can decide the temperature to heat the box with the thermostat - I would suggest researching the seasonal temperatures of your ants' collection location and finding a temperature that is reasonable for them all. Good luck!

[AntsDakota]

My Tetras are in a tubs n’ tubes setup, and they have a heating pad right underneath. There’s also substrate in between the tube and heating pad. Both the container and substrate conduct heat well enough that the ants get plenty of it, but absorb enough to keep them far from cooking.

[Manitobant]

Real answer: you don't

[Swirlysnowflake]

Real answer: you don't

lol, guess I’m just going to get them a mini hearth to heat. I’m asking mainly for my honeypots, and I definitely don’t want to kill them. At least THA is having a huge holiday/cyber Monday sale